Self steering gear for yachts and boats

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to improvements in self steering gear for yachts and boats and is distinguished by the combination of a balanced wind operated steering vane on the boat pivotally about an axis forming an acute angle with the horizontal and turnable about a vertical axis, a servo-rudder mounted on the main rudder of the boat turnable about an axis substantially parallel with the turning axis of said main rudder, levers fixed on said vane and said servo-rudder, respectively, and a flexible push and pull cable interconnecting said levers so that motion or power from said wind operated steering vane is transferred to and operate said servo-rudder in conformity therewith in order to counteract deviation and retain the set course.

United States Patent [1 1 von Trepka [451 Sept. 23, 1975 SELF STEERINGGEAR FOR YACHTS AND BOATS [76] Inventor: Knut Emil von Trepka,

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 12, 1972 Norway 3663/72 [52]US. Cl 114/144 C [51] Int. Cl. B63H 25/52 [58] Field of Search 114/144C, 144 R, 162, 114/164, 166, 167; 73/188 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 46,807 3/1865 Le Pelley 114/167 1,681,415 8/1928 Lee il14/144C 2,266,172 12/1941 Davis.... 73/188 3,319,594 5/1967 Gianoli114/144 C 3,678,878 7/1972 Ross-Clunis 114/144 C 3,765,361 10/1973 Saye114/144 C 3,826,213 7/1974 Riebandt 114/144 C FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 80,926 l/l962 France 114/144 C Primary ExaminerTrygve M,Blix Assistant Examiner-Stuart M. Goldstein Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak [57] ABSTRACT The presentinvention relates to improvements in self steering gear for yachts andboats and is distinguished by the combination of a balanced windoperated steering vane on the boat pivotally about an axis forming anacute angle with the horizontal and turnable about a vertical axis, aservo-rudder mounted on the main rudder of the boat turnable about anaxis substantially parallel with the turning axis of said main rudder,levers fixed on said vane and said servo-rudder, respectively, and aflexible push and pull cable interconnecting said levers so that motionor power from said wind operated steering vane is transferred to andoperate said servo-rudder in conformity therewith in order to counteractdeviation and retain the set course.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 1 of33,906,881

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 2 01 3 3,906,881

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 3 of?) 3,906,881

SELF STEERING GEAR FOR YACHTS AND BOATS The present invention relates toa self steering gear for yachts and similar boats of the type comprisinga balanced vertical-steering vane pivotable about an axis forming anacute angle with the horizontal under the influence of the wind, andturnable about a vertical axis for setting the course of the boat, andmeans transferring the motion of the wind vane to a servo-rudder on themain rudder of the boat to counteract deviations and retain the setcourse.

In previously known steering gears of the type above mentioned the meansfor transferring motion of the steering vane to the servo-ruddercomprise rigid elements such as rods, linkages etc. which make itnecessary that the vane is installed in an exact, determined positionrelatively to said servo-rudder.

The main object of the present invention is to provide means fortransferring the effect of the wind operated steering vane to theservo-rudder allowing installing of the vane regardless of saidservo-rudder and at a convenient place on the boat where it is out ofthe way and not becomes an obstacle.

According to the invention this is obtained thereby that the transfer ofthe power from the movement of the steering vane to the servo-ruddertakes place by means of a flexible push and pull connection, such as aBowden wire.

An embodiment of the invention is an example illustrated in theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the self steering gears according to theinvention mounted on the stern of a boat,

FIG. 2 is a similar view of the steering gear, seen from the oppositeside of that in FIG. 1, and with the boat removed, and

FIG. 3 is a detail view showing the mounting means of the steering vane.

In the drawing FIG. 1 shows the stern of a boat on which a self steeringgear according to the present invention is installed.

A vertical steering vane I placed to be influenced by the wind issupported pivotally against the action of a balancing counterweight 2 ina fork shaped support member 17 by pivots 20. Said fork shaped member 17is formed in an inclined position on a sleeve shaped part 23 adapted tobe rotatably supported on the upper end of a vertical hollow post 18secured with its lower end to the boat by a bracket 19. By thisarrangement the inclination of the fork shaped member 17 is so chosenthat the pivot axis 20 of the vane 1 forms an angle with the horizontalof about 20. To lock the sup port member 17, 23 and thereby the vane 1in set position, the sleeve part 23 may be secured to the post 18 bymeans of a clamp 4. By supporting the vane l pivotally on an inclinedaxis the surface of attack for the wind decreases to zero at a certainrotation thereof. Thus the magnitude of the rudder turning becomesindependent of the force of the wind and only dependent of the angle ofthe side wind.

In order to increase the effect of the vane 1 it is provided on eitherside with flaps 8 by means of brackets at a distance from respectivesides and projecting rearwardly at an angle of about 60 therewith. Saidflaps increase the effect of the vane to such a degree that the over-allarea thereof may be reduced.

The vane 1 may be locked to the supporting member 17 in verticalposition by means of a releasable locking tap 3. v

The motion or power from the above described wind operated steering vane1 is transferred to a servorudder 10 on the main rudder of the boat inorder to operate said servo-rudder in conformity with said vane motionand counter-act deviation.

The servo-rudder comprises two vertical, spaced side walls 14interconnected by upper and lower cross walls 15 forming together abox-like member with rectangular cross section and open ended indirection of the water streaming along the sides of the main rudder.Thus the servo-rudder 10 presents increased pressure surfaces and acorresponding increased swing effect.

The servo-rudder is by means of pivots 21, provided in the upper andlower cross walls 15 thereof, turnably supported at the rear edge of themain rudder 11 in brackets secured thereto. It is found that the pivotaxis of the servo-rudder 10 should be positioned behind the leading edgeof the servo-rudder so that 25% of the area thereof is forward said axiswhereby the servorudder enables to multiply the torque of the vaneseveral times.

The means for transferring motion from the vane l to operate theservo-rudder 1'0 comprises a flexible push and pull cable, such as aBowden wire, with a flexible wire 16 displaceably within a hose 22.

One end of the flexible wire 16 is secured to an arm or lug 13 on theservo-rudder. with the adjacent end of the hose secured to the mainrudder at 12. The wire 16 is with its other end passed upwardly throughthe hol low post 18 and sleeve 23 and is secured to an arm or lever 5 onthe vane I projecting at right angle to the plane of the vane and at thelevel of the pivot axis thereof. Said arm or lever 5 is provided with alongitudinal slit in which the fastening means 6 of the wire 16 may beadjusted. The wire 16 may be connected to the fastening 6 by means of arotatable connection 7 allowing the support member 17, 23 with the clamp4 released and the vane 1 locked in vertical position thereto by thelocking tap 3, to rotate without interfering the flexible wireconnection.

I claim:

1. A self steering mechanism for marine craft wherein said craft has ahull and rudder, comprising:

a. a wind actuated steering vane;

b. pivot means supporting said vane to the hull of the craft, said pivotmeans forming an acute angle with the horizontal and turnable about avertical axis;

0. means comprising a counterweight to balance said vane on said pivotmeans;

(I. an auxiliary rudder operably mounted on the rudder of said craft forrotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said rudder:a flexible cable disposed betweeen said vane and said auxiliary rudderand means connecting one end of said cable to the vane and the other endof said cable to the auxiliary rudder;

f. first means to lock said vane to said pivot means and second meansinterposed between said vane and said flexible cable to allow therotation of said vane locked to the pivot means without rotation ortwisting of the cable.

2. The self steering gear of claim I, wherein said steering vane furthercomprises flaps fixed on either side thereof and projecting rearwardlyat an angle of approximately 60 to thevane.

3. A self steering mechanism for marine craft wherein said craft has ahull and rudder comprising:

a. a wind actuated steering vane;

b. pivot means supporting said vane to the hull of the craft, said pivotmeans forming an acute angle with the horizontal and turnable about avertical axis, said pivot means comprising a vertical hollow postsecured to the craft, a hollow sleeve rotatable on the upper end of saidpost. a forked shaped member secured to said sleeve in an inclinedposition, said steering vane pivotally supported on said fork shapedmember;

c. locking means to secure said steering vane to said forked shapedmember;

are provided for locking said post to said hollow sleeve in an adjustedposition for the steering vane.

1. A self steering mechanism for marine craft wherein said craft has ahull and rudder, comprising: a. a wind actuated steering vane; b. pivotmeans supporting said vane to the hull of the craft, said pivot meansforming an acute angle with the horizontal and turnable about a verticalaxis; c. means comprising a counterweight to balance said vane on saidpivot means; d. an auxiliary rudder operably mounted on the rudder ofsaid craft for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotationof said rudder; e. a flexible cable disposed betweeen said vane and saidauxiliary rudder and means connecting one end of said cable to the vaneand the other end of said cable to the auxiliary rudder; f. first meansto lock said vane to said pivot means and second means interposedbetween said vane and said flexible cable to allow the rotation of saidvane locked to the pivot means without rotation or twisting of thecable.
 2. The self steering gear of claim 1, wherein said steering vanefurther comprises flaps fixed on either side thereof and projectingrearwardly at an angle of approximately 60* to the vane.
 3. A selfsteering mechanism for marine craft wherein said craft has a hull andrudder comprising: a. a wind actuated steering vane; b. pivot meanssupporting said vane to the hull of the craft, said pivot means formingan acute angle with the horizontal and turnable about a vertical axis,said pivot means comprising a vertical hollow post secured to the craft,a hollow sleeve rotatable on the upper end of said post, a forked shapedmember secured to said sleeve in an inclined position, said steeringvane pivotally supported on said fork shaped member; c. locking means tosecure said steering vane to said forked shaped member; d. meanscomprising a counterweight to balance said vane on said pivot means; e.an auxiliary rudder operably mounted on the rudder of said craft forrotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said rudder;and f. a flexible cable disposed between said vane and said auxiliaryrudder and means connecting one end of said cable to the vane and theother end of said cable to the auxilairy rudder, wherein thedisplacement of the vane is transferred to the auxiliary rudder.
 4. Theself steering gear of claim 3, wherein means are provided for lockingsaid post to said hollow sleeve in an adjusted position for the steeringvane.